Armor for tires.



' 0. E. TITUS.

' AEMOR FOR TIRES.

- APPLICATION FILED AUG, 28, 1907.

955,83 1. I Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. E. TITUS.

I ARMOR FOR TIRES.

APPLIGATION FILED ma s, 1907.

955,831. Pat nt d Apr-19,1910.

2 SKBETS-SHEET 2.

CHARLES E. arms, 0! B?BIHGFIEI4D, MASSACHUSETTS.

ABHOB FOB TIRES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Application filed August 28, 1907. Serial No. 890,501.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. T rros, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of IfIampden and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Armors forTires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumatic or cushioned tires for vehicles, inwhich the propelling force is applied directly from the axle to thetrend of the wheel; and the object thereof is to provide a tire withmeans, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, which acts as. an armor forthe tread of the tire, thereby reducing the wear thereof, as well asprcvcntin uncturing and overcoming any liability 0 1: 1e tire skiddingor side slipping.

W'ith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction and arrangement of tread elements with respect tothe tire, as herein after more specifically described and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of theclaims hereunto appended.

In the drawin '5, wherein like characters denote correspon mg partsthroughout the several views-Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view ofa pneumatic tire showing the periphery thereof provided with an armorformed from a plurality of tread elements in accordance with thisinvention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the tire broken away; Fig. 3 is a planshowing a modified construction of armor; Fig. 4 is a pers ective viewof one form of combined trea element and nail; Fig. 5 is a verticalsectional View of another form of combined tread element and nail Fig. 6is a perspective view of one form 0% interposed arrester between thetread element and the periphery of the tire; Fig. 7 is a sectional viewof one form of tread element; Fig. 8 is a view of one form of treadnail; Fig. 9 is a plan of a modified construction of armor; Fig. 10 is aperspective view of the form of arrester shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is asectional view of a. modified form of arrester to be interposed betweenthe tread element and the periphery of the tire, also showing a combinedtrend element and nail engaging with the arr-ester for maintaining it inposition; Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view of a modified form ofarrester; Fig. 13 is a plan of a modified form of armor; Fig. 1% IS aperspective view of another form of arrcstcr to be interposed betweenthe tread element and the periphery of the tire; Fig. 15 is a erspcctivoview of anplt-hcr form of combined tread element and mu Referring toFigs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, 1 denotes the outer tube orcover of a pneumatic tire which has mounted upon its periphery an armorin accordance with this invention, the said armor being formed of aplurality of tread elements 2, 3, and a series of interposed arr-esters4. Each of the tread elements 2 consists of a body ortion 5 having apointed shank 6 depen ing approximately centrally therefrom. The upperface of the body portion 5 has proecting therefrom a truncatedcone-shaped protuberance 7. The body portion 5 is furthermore providedwith an annular groove V-shaped J11 cross section which is formed on thebody portion by a ridge 9 surrounding the lower portion of theprotuberance 7. The shank 6 of the tread element extends through thecover 1 and carries on its lower end a washer 10, and to secure thewasher upon the inner portion of the shank 6 the terminus of the shankis upset as at 11 and by such an arrangement the tread element isfixedly secured to the cover 1. The body portion of each of the treadelements 2 is circular, and to revent the puncturin of the cover or tirey the passage of anyt ing shar through the space formed between thetree. elements 2, as well as the tread elements 3, flat disk-likearr-esters 4 extend across said space at the bottom thereof, thearresters 4 ein interposed between the body portion of t e treadelements and the periphery of the cover 1, the arresters 4 beingmaintained in position by the tread elements. The outer rows of each ofthe tread elements (the elements of the rows being indicated by thereference character 3) are shaped somewhat diiferently from the treadelements 2, and in this connection it will be stated that the bodyportion 12 of the tread elements 3 has a flat upper face 13, which isuninterrupted throughout. Depending from. the body portion 12 is a,pointed shank 14 which is secured in the same manner to the cover 1 asthe shank 6. The trend elements 3 of the outer rows of tread elementsgive support to the inner rows of tread elements in case of theprotuberance 7 abutting against stones or glancing off of stones orother ob structions. To prevent the washers 10 of the upset ends 11 ofthe shanks 6 or 14 n uring the inner tube 15 a res lient stri ofmaterial 17 such as rubber is interpose' be tween the tube 15 and theinner face of the cover 1.

In Fig. 7 a. modified form of tread elements is shown, and whichconsists of a body portion 18 having its upperface countersunk, as at19, forming a marginal rib 20. The body portion 18, approximately ccnt-rally thereof, is provided with an opening 21 through which extendsthe shank of the tread nail for securing the tread element to thecover 1. The form of tread nail used in connection with the treadelement shown in Fig. 7 is illustrated in Fig. 8 and Which consists of ashank 22' terminating in a head 23 of truncated cone shape. Thecountersunk portion 19 constitutes a seat for the head 23 when the treadnail secures the tread element to the cover 1.

In Fig. 3 a modified construction of armor is illustrated, the armorconsisting of either the form of tread element shown in Fig. 5 or thatshown in Fig. 7 in connection with the tread nail shown in Fig.8, butthe arresters are difit'erent-ly constructed from the form of arrestersshown in Fig. 6. The arresters shown in Fig. 3 are indicated by thereference character 24 and consists of aflat circular disk havingapproximately cen trally thereof a substantially diamond shapedprotuberance 25 with the upper face 26 thereof depressed in acurvilinear manner. The sides of the protuberances 26 are segment-shapedso as to conform to the shape of the recess or space formed between theabutting tread element. The arrest-er 24 extends between aseries oftread elements and the periphery of the cover, such arrangementmaintaining the arresters 24: 1n POSI- tion.

In Fig. 9 amodified form of armor is illustrated and the tread elementsemployed are of a construction similar to that shown in Fig. 5 or Fig. 7in connection with the tread nail shown in Fig. 8; but the treadelements are somewhat enlar ed. The arresters interposed between tietread elements and the periphery of the tire are of a differentconstruction from that shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and in this connection itwill be stated that each of the nrrcstcrs consists of a rectangular late27 having curved ridges 28 to form t e underlying flanges 29. The upperface of the plate is provided with a groove 30 substantially V-shaped incross section, forming thereby a marginal rid c 31. The flange 29constitutes a seat for the tread elements so that the arrcstcrs will besecured upon the cover when the tread elements are attached thereto. Theseating of the tread elements upon the arrcsters is shown in Fig. 11.

in Fig. 153 u modified construction of ar roster is shown and whichsubstantially the same as that shown in Figs. 10 and 11 with theexception that the upper face of the art-ester is countersunk as at 32to form the ridge 33. The arrcstcr in Fig. 12 is indicated by thereference character 34 and the flanges upon which the tread elements areseated are indicated by the reference character 35.

In Fig. 13 a modified form of armor in accordance with this invention isillustrated and which consists of a series of tread elements 36substantially octagonal in contour and a series of interposed arrcstcrs37. T he tread elements 36 are of a construction similar to that shownin Figs. 5 and T in con motion with Fig. 8, with the exception that theshape is different. The arresters 37 are formed of a circular diskhaving arranged approximately centrally of its upper face a squareprotuberance 38 having the up er face thereof sloping inwardly as at 39.he arresters when in position extend below the tread elements as clearlyshown in Fig. 13 and one of the sides of each of the elements which aremounted upon the arresters is arranged in close proximity to one side ofthe protuberance, the latter closing the space formed between a seriesof abutting tread elements.

In Fig. 15 a modified construction of tread element is shown, whichconsists of a bod portion eh) having a pointed shank 40* de* pendingtherefrom. The body portion has a truncated cone-shaped protuberance 41formed integral with the upper face and which is surrounded by a seriesof projections 42 formed at the edge of the body portion and at a pointremoved from the protuberance 41 thereby providing a groove whichextends around the protuberance 41.

The advantages of the invention may be summarized as follows: Since thetread elements are independent of each other and are individually freeto move with the tire body, there is no-sacrifice of resiliency. At thesame time, the armor efficiently carries out its primary functions,viz., protecting the trend of the tire against puncturing by deflectingobstructions; preventing slcidding or side slipping and obtainingperfect traction without heating from friction. Furthermore, theiuterengaging relation of certain of the tread elements )rcvcnts thestripping of the armor in case the tire should encounter a stone orother large obstruction which would produce a stress on the outer rowsof the elements, and the arrangement. of the tread elements tointerenguge with the arrcstcrs assists in equalizing the stresses.

What I claim is- 1. Au armor for pneumatic tires compris- .can t.

1m l'QYlLlQdJVIth n "interposed ween a plurality of ad acent"tread-elements; l

.2. .Ainarnmr for .pneunwtip tires compris- "'sriejsffof'ubuttin'gcircular tread elc between, "each: {of "said elements being providedwith, a ridge and a protuberance and means for securing the element .to'a the, arresters interposed between the elements and the tire andconstituting means for closing the spaces, said arrestersbeing maintaned in osition by said eiements and provided wit raised portions havingthe edges thereof curvilinear in contour.

3. An armor for pneumatic tires compris ing a series of tread unitspermanently secured to the tire and having spaces therebetween and aseries of .arrestcrs arranged to close the spaces, unattached to thetire and having portions thereof projecting under the adjacent treadunits.

4. An armor for pneumatic tires comprising a series of tread unitspermanently secured to the tire and having spaces therebetween and aseries of arresters arranged to close the spaces, unattached to the tireand having port-ions thereof projecting under the adjacent tread units,each arrester being formed with a protuberance.

35 5. An armor for pneumatic tires eomprising a series of tread unitshaving projections at their edges and having intervening spacestherebetween, means for permanently attaching the tread units to thetire, a series of arresters arranged to close said spaces, unattached tothe tire and having portions thereof projecting under the adjacent treadcuts]. having ,mtervenmg; spaces there itS,,=- chlarrcster having aprojection .5 n hichgbiitsnnd matches with portions of the pro ect-ionsof. the ad acent tread units.

6. An armor for pneumatic tires comprising a series of tread unitshaving beveled ridges at their edges and having intervening spacestherebetwecn, means for permanently attaching the tread units to thetire, a series 10f arr-esters arranged to close said spaces,

unattached to the tire and having portions thereof projecting under theadjacent tread omits, each arrester havin beveled ridges at the adjuitsedges, matching the ridges of forming cent tread units and arresters andtherewith substantially V-shaped projections.

7. An armor for pneumatic tires comprising a series of tread unitspermanently attached to the tire and having spaces interveningtherebetween, a series of arresters unattached to the tire and havingportions thereof projecting under the adjacent tread units and means forholding the arresters against turning on the surface of the tire withrelation to the tread units.-

8. An armor for pneumatic tires comprising a series of tread unitspermanently attached to the tire, arranged in abutting relation and soshaped that spaces intervene therebetween, and arresters arran ed toclose the spaces and having portions t ereof projecting under the adacent tread units, said arresters being movable in the direction inwhich the tread of the tire yields, independently of the tread units. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

. CHARLES E. TITUS.

Witnesses WM. A. KIDDY, Mona]: I. Dawn.

